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General Information

Tel.No. 01508 481886

NEW CLERK 

Following our advertisment for a new Parish Clerk, we were fortunate to have three applicants for the post who were interviewed in May 2008.  The successful candidate was Caroline Fare, who lives in the village.  We welcome her and hope she enjoys working for us and the villages.

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Please consider standing as a Parish Councillor  

The present members of our Parish Council finish their four year term of office in May.  You will have seen much publicity about the increasing importance of parish councils in the future and how important it is we get more parishioners standing for election.  We have 7 seats to fill and anyone on the register of electors can stand to become a member of our parish council.  The last date for nominations is 12 noon on the 4^th April 2007.   

Anyone requiring further information, please email:

hedleysmith@ashwellthorpe.org.uk  

Nomination forms are available from SNC or email: hedleysmith@ashwellthorpe.org.uk  

ELECTION TIMETABLE 

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What is the Parish Council?

Parish and Town Councils are the most local level of government in the England. They are independent bodies and have responsibility for:

• Representing all residents in the parish.
• Running local services that may include: allotments, cemeteries, community buildings, recreation and play areas, seating, bus shelters, litter bins and local transport schemes.
• Commenting on planning applications and long-term development issues.
• Collecting money for their budget through the 'precept' as part of council tax. Each parish council has the power to set it's own budget according to their plans for the year and therefore can decide what the precept level should be to provide the required funding.
• And also have wide-ranging powers to become involved in further activities that contribute towards the improvement of the environment and quality of life in the parish.

Who are the Parish Councillors?

All parish councillors are local residents who have volunteered; they have then either been elected by the public or the parish council; they are unpaid and serve a four year term. The parish clerk is a paid position that deals with the parish council's administration.

How can I get involved?

If you don't want to become a parish councillor but are still interested in what is going on in your local area - any member of the public can attend parish council meetings, including the parish council's annual meeting. Most parish councils provide an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions of the parish council or comment on parish matters.

How can I find out more?

• Have a look at South Norfolk Council’s website  www.south-norfolk.gov.uk  
• Contact the Norfolk County Association of Parish and Town Councils on 01603 664869 or e-mail ncaptc@btclick.com 
• Contact Hedley Smith by emailing hedleysmith@ashwellthorpe.org.uk  

Why become a parish councillor? 

If you’ve never been to a parish council meeting before, you may be forgiven for thinking that parish councillors are a group of (probably older) people who meet now and then in a draughty village hall to discuss budgets and parish precepts, making decisions that have little impact on the community they serve.

If, however, you live in a community where something ‘big’ has happened – such as a contentious planning application – you’ll know that when people in the community need support and guidance, it is that same group of people in the village hall they will turn to.

What decisions do parish councils make?

Probably the most common topics that parish councils get involved with are planning matters (they are statutory consultees), crime prevention and roads & highways.

It’s true to say that on their own, parish councils have limited powers to make decisions (other than those listed on the Powers & duties page (of South Norfolk’s website). But they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions (such as the district or county council, health authorities, police etc.).

In this respect parish councils are extremely powerful. The organisations that make the final decisions know that a parish council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something, and it’s views will be taken seriously.

How much time does it take up?

Councils usually meet once a month for the council meeting, to which members of the public are also invited. Meetings may last two or three hours, depending on what’s on the list of items to discuss. Some councils may also have sub-committees to deal with specific subjects, such as planning matters.

In addition to the regular meetings, councillors are required to spare time for ‘ad hoc’ meetings – for example with architects or agents to discuss planning applications that the council must give its opinions on. Such meetings won’t happen every day, so it’s not going to take over your life – and the bonus is you get to see the detail of what’s being planned for your community before anyone else.

Am I eligible to be a parish councillor?

To stand for election on a parish council, you must:

• be a UK or Commonwealth citizen, or;
  - be a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or;
  - be a citizen of another Member state of the European Union;
• be at least 18 years old;

To be eligible to stand for an election for a particular parish, you must:

• be an elector of the parish, or;
• in the past 12 months have occupied (as owner or tenant) land or other premises in the parish, or;
• work in the parish (as your principal or only place of work), or;
• live within three miles of the parish boundary.

Don’t take our word for it!